1

Reservoir Drive Mechanisms

and Producing Characteristics
Copyright 2003 Schlumberger. Unpublished work. All rights reserved. This work contains confidential and proprietary trade secrets of Schlumberger and may
not be copied or stored in an informational retrieval system, transferred, used, distributed, translated or retransmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or
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2
Outline
Importance to Schlumberger
Major reservoir drive mechanisms for oil
and gas reservoirs
Typical production characteristics for the
major drive mechanisms
Typical recovery factor ranges for the
different drive mechanisms
3
Objectives
Describe the importance to you and
Schlumberger
List the major reservoir drive mechanisms
for oil and gas reservoirs and describe
how each works
Describe the typical production/pressure
characteristics for the major drive
mechanisms
List the approximate recovery factor for the
different drive mechanisms

4
Importance to Schlumberger

Well logging
Well testing
Treatment design
Production prediction
5
Reservoir Drive Mechanisms
Oil
Solution-gas drive
Gas-cap drive
Water drive
Combination drive
Gravity-drainage drive
Gas
Volumetric reservoir (gas expansion drive)
Water drive

6
Reservoir Energy Sources
- Liberation, expansion of solution gas
- Influx of aquifer water
- Expansion of reservoir rock
- Expansion of original reservoir fluids
- Free gas
- Interstitial water
- Oil, if present
Gravitational forces
7
Solution-Gas Drive in Oil Reservoirs
Oil
A. Original Conditions
B. 50% Depleted
Oil producing wells
Oil producing wells
Cross Section
8
Solution-Gas Drive in Oil Reservoirs
Reservoir type
- Only oil phase exists at original conditions.
- Pure solution-gas drive reservoir has no original gas cap
or aquifer.
Main source(s) of reservoir energy
- Liberation and expansion of dissolved (solution) gas
- Expansion of reservoir rock, interstitial (original) water,
and oil are always present but usually minor sources of
reservoir energy for oil reservoirs.


9
Solution-Gas Drive in Oil Reservoirs
Reservoir behavior characteristics
- Reservoir rock/liquid expansion (oil and original water) are
main sources of reservoir energy in oil reservoirs above p
b
.

- There is no free gas (original gas cap) present above the p
b

- Pressure reduction below p
b
of oil causes evolution and
expansion of dissolved (solution) gas.

- Liberated dissolved gas may segregate from oil phase
under gravity forces and form a secondary gas cap.

10
Solution-Gas Drive in Oil
Reservoirs
Formation of a Secondary Gas Cap
Wellbore
Secondary
gas cap
11
Solution-Gas Drive in Oil Reservoirs
Typical Production Characteristics
G
a
s
/
o
i
l

r
a
t
i
o
,

S
C
F
/
S
T
B

Gas/oil
ratio
Reservoir
pressure
Oil production rate
Time, years
O
i
l

p
r
o
d
u
c
t
i
o
n

r
a
t
e
,

S
T
B
/
D

800

600

400

200

0
400

300

200

100

0

400

300

200

100

0

P
r
e
s
s
u
r
e
,

p
s
i
a

Recovery = 5 to 30% of OOIP
*??
*??
12
Gas-Cap Drive in Oil Reservoirs
Cross Section
Oil producing well
Oil
zone
Oil
zone
Gas cap

13
Gas-Cap Drive in Oil Reservoirs
Reservoir Type
- Free gas phase exists as an original gas cap
above oil zone
- Pure gas-cap drive reservoir has no aquifer

Main source(s) of reservoir energy
- Expansion of gas cap
- Liberation and expansion of solution gas in the
oil zone

14
Gas-Cap Drive in Oil Reservoirs
Reservoir behavior characteristics
- As pressure declines, the gas cap expands downward
and lowers gas/oil contact.
- Expanding gas cap maintains original pressure at a
higher level than in a reservoir without an original gas
cap (solution-gas drive oil reservoirs).
- Higher reservoir pressure keeps dissolved gas in
solution longer; oil with more dissolved gas is less
viscous and moves more easily toward production
wells.
- Expanding gas cap displaces oil downstructure and
effectively sweeps the portion of the reservoir
occupied previously by oil.
- Gas/oil ratios rise dramatically in wells overtaken by
expanding gas cap (wells "gas out or cone)
15
Gas-Cap Drive in Oil Reservoirs
Typical Production Characteristics
Recovery = 15 to 50% of OOIP
1300
1200
1100
900
0
P
r
e
s
s
u
r
e
,

p
s
i
a

O
i
l

p
r
o
d
u
c
t
i
o
n

r
a
t
e
,

Time, years
G
a
s
/
o
i
l

r
a
t
i
o
,

s
c
f
/
S
T
B

2
1
800
600
400
200
0
Reservoir pressure
Gas/oil ratio
Oil
1000
M
S
T
B
/
D

16
Water Drive in Oil Reservoirs
Reservoir type
- Oil zone in communication with aquifer
- Pure water drive reservoir has no original
gas cap
Main source(s) of reservoir energy
- Influx of aquifer water
Types of aquifer
- Edge-water drive
- Bottom-water drive
17
Water Drive in Oil Reservoirs
Reservoir behavior characteristics
- As reservoir pressure declines, aquifer water
moves into pore space vacated by oil.
- Pressure decline is relatively slow (stronger water
drive results in more significant pressure
maintenance).
- Gas/oil ratio is relatively low and stable.
- Majority of producing wells eventually experience
water breakthrough; water production increases.
- As wells produce water, oil production rate
declines. Many production wells eventually load
up with water and cannot be produced further.

18
Water Drive in Oil Reservoirs
Edgewater Drive
Oil producing well
Water Water
Cross Section
Oil Zone
19
Water Drive in Oil Reservoirs
Bottomwater Drive
Oil producing well
Cross Section
Oil Zone
Water
20
Water Drive in Oil Reservoirs
Typical Production Characteristics
Time, years
2
0
1
0
20
40
60
80
100
1900
2000
2100
2200
2300
40
30
20
10
0
G
a
s
/
o
i
l

r
a
t
i
o
,

M
S
C
F
/
S
T
B

W
a
t
e
r

c
u
t
,

%

O
i
l

p
r
o
d
u
c
t
i
o
n

r
a
t
e
,

P
r
e
s
s
u
r
e
,

p
s
i
a

Gas/oil ratio
Reservoir pressure

Oil
Water
M
S
T
B
/
D

Recovery = 30 to 60% of OOIP
21
Combination Drive in Oil Reservoirs
Water
Cross Section
Oil zone
Gas cap
22
Gravity Drainage in Oil Reservoirs
Reservoir type
Reservoir behavior characteristics
Oil
Oil
Oil
Point A
Point B
Point C
Gas
Gas
Gas
Recovery = to 60% of OOIP
23
Pressure Trends
Reservoir pressure trends
0 20 40 60 80 100
100

80

60

40

20

0
Gas-cap drive
Water drive
Solution
-gas drive
R
e
s
e
r
v
o
i
r

p
r
e
s
s
u
r
e
,


P
e
r
c
e
n
t

o
f

o
r
i
g
i
n
a
l

Cumulative oil produced, percent of original oil in place
24
Gas/Oil Ratio Trends
Gas/oil ratio trends

5


4


3


2


1


0
Cumulative oil produced, percent of original oil in place
0 20 40 60 80 100
Water drive
Gas-cap drive
Solution-
gas drive
25
Gas Reservoir Drive Mechanisms
Volumetric reservoir (gas expansion drive)
Water drive
26
Volumetric Gas Reservoirs
Reservoir type
- Gas reservoir with no aquifer
Main source(s) of reservoir energy
- Expansion of original reservoir gas
- Reservoir rock and fluids expansion can be important
sources of reservoir energy for abnormally high-
pressured gas reservoirs.
Typical production characteristics
Long flowing life.
Slow decline in pressure
Recovery = 70 to 90% of OGIP

27
Water Drive in Gas Reservoirs
Reservoir type
- Communication with an aquifer
Main source(s) of reservoir energy
- Influx of aquifer water
- Expansion of original reservoir gas

Typical production characteristics
- Pressure declines more slowly than gas drive
- Can flow for a extended period until water production
occurs.
- Water production may cause the well to die.
Recovery = 35 to 65% of OOIP??



28
Oil Reservoir Drive Mechanisms
Summary of Source(s) of Reservoir Energy
- Solution-gas drive
- Gas-cap drive
- Water drive
- Combination drive
- Gravity-drainage drive
29
Gas Reservoir Drive Mechanisms
Summary of Source(s) of Reservoir Energy
- Volumetric reservoir (gas expansion
drive)
- Water drive
30
Exercise 1
Given: Source(s) of reservoir energy

Determine: Drive mechanism
31
Exercise 2
Pressure trend
P
r
e
s
s
u
r
e

Time
P
r
e
s
s
u
r
e

Time
P
r
e
s
s
u
r
e

Time
Gas/oil ratio trend
Time
Time
Time
Reservoir 1
Reservoir 3
Reservoir 2
32
Average Recovery Factors
Oil Reservoirs
Average Oil Recovery
Factors,
% of OOIP
Drive Mechanism
Range Average
Solution-gas drive 5 - 30 15
Gas-cap drive 15 - 50 30
Water drive 30 - 60 40
Gravity-drainage
drive
16 - 85 50
33
Average Recovery Factors
Gas Reservoirs
Average Gas Recovery
Factors,
% of OGIP
Drive Mechanism
Range Average
Volumetric reservoir
(Gas expansion drive)
70 - 90 80
Water drive 35 - 65 50
34
Exercise 3
Given: Recovery factors

Determine: Drive mechanism
35
Properties Favorable for
Oil Recovery
- Solution-gas drive oil reservoirs
Low oil density
Low oil viscosity
High oil bubblepoint pressure
Higher R
s
and B
o
36
Properties Favorable for
Oil Recovery
- Gas-cap drive oil reservoirs
Favorable oil properties
Relatively large ratio of gas cap to oil zone
High reservoir dip angle
Thick oil column
37
Properties Favorable for
Oil Recovery
- Water drive oil reservoirs
Large aquifer
Low oil viscosity
High relative oil permeability
Little reservoir heterogeneity and stratification

38
Properties Favorable for
Oil Recovery
- Combination drive oil reservoirs
- Gravity drainage oil reservoirs
High reservoir dip angle
Favorable permeability distribution
Large fluid density difference
Large segregation area
Low withdrawal
39
Properties Favorable for
Gas Recovery
- Volumetric gas reservoir (gas expansion
drive)
Low abandonment pressure
- Water-drive gas reservoir
Small aquifer
Small degree of reservoir heterogeneity and
stratification
40
Exercise 4
Given: Reservoir properties

Determine: Will oil recovery increase
or decrease?
41
Estimating Oil Recovery
Factors
Solution-gas drive - API study
( )
( )
(
(

(
|
.
|

\
|

|
.
|

\
|

|
.
|

\
| |
=
1741 . 0
a
b
3722 . 0
wi
0979 . 0
ob
1611 . 0
ob
wi
R
p
p
S
k
B
S 1
8 . 41 E
42
Estimating Oil Recovery
Factors
Water drive - API study


( )
( )
(
(

(
|
.
|

\
|

|
.
|

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|

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.
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=

2159 . 0
a
i
1903 . 0
wi
0770 . 0
oi
w
0422 . 0
oi
wi
R
p
p
S
k
B
S 1
9 . 54 E
43
Estimating Oil Recovery Factors
Water drive - Guthrie-Greenberger study
114 . 0 0003 . 0 538 . 1
log 136 . 0 256 . 0 log 272 . 0
10 10
+
+ =
h
S k E
o wi R
|

44
Exercise 5
Estimating Oil Recovery Factors
Given: Reservoir and fluid properties

Determine: Expected oil recovery
factors


45
Summary
Reservoir drive mechanisms
Sources of reservoir energy
46
Summary
Typical production characteristics
Average recovery factors
Favorable reservoir properties
Estimating oil recovery factors